Eighteen days between games did not alter a season-long trend for Marquette Catholic Explorers girls basketball.

The lose-win pattern the Explorers opened with in November extended into January with Marquette’s 54-32 Prairie State Conference victory over the Bunker Hill Minutemaids on Monday night at Hlafka Hall in Bunker Hill.

The Explorers, who have yet to win or lose back-to-back games, take a 7-7 record into Thursday’s PSC game at Nokomis. Bunker Hill is 5-10.

Marquette’s Lauren Fischer posted a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds. Taylor Aguirre scored 11 points and Peyton Kline and Madi Connors each had eight for the Explorers. Marquette led 28-18 at halftime and pulled away over the final two quarters.

Carlinville 53, Staunton 30 – The Bulldogs’ upset hopes built on a 9-7 first-quarter lead were mostly gone by halftime of their South Central Conference loss to the Cavaliers in Carlinville.

The Cavs outscored the Dogs 20-6 in the second quarter and put the game away with a 18-5 closing quarter. Carlinville is 11-6 and 5-1 in the SCC. Staunton is 1-13 and 0-5 in the league.

Carlinville’s Rachel Olroyd made 4 of 6 from 3-point territory and led all scorers with 18 points. Grace Zachary had 16 points and Sydney Bates made four steals for the Cavs.

The Bulldogs, coming off a 49-26 victory over EA-WR in the Carlinville Tourney to snap a 12-game losing streak, got nine points from Elizabeth Birdsell, seven from Ashleigh Painter, and nine rebounds from Mackenzie Foster.

Calhoun 61, Brussels 43 – Calhoun County rivals clashed for the second time in seven days and the result went unchanged. Calhoun led 25-23 at the half and took command with a 19-8 third quarter to win in Brussels.

Calhoun is 12-3. Brussels is 10-4. Grace Baalman scored all of her 12 points in the second half after sitting out most of the first two quarters with foul issues. Junie Zirkelbach took up the slack, scoring a career-high 30 points while making a pair of 3-pointers and 8 of 8 free throws.

Baylee Kiel scored 22 points to lead the Raiders, who got 14 points from Grace Stephens and 11 rebounds from Madison Willman. Brussels was without injured starter Alexa Pikesley, who is averaging 10 points a game. Calhoun defeated Brussels 61-43 last week at the Jersey Tournament.